BAH to unmarried E1 - E5. Yes or No ?

IMHO not looking at the budget or anything else. I would say Senior SGTs on their 2nd enlistment should be given the choice to move off post. Per the commanders they would still have a few of the junior SGTs living in the barracks. Everything based on DOR.

Compared to when I enlisted in 1987 and lived in the barracks at my first duty station prior to getting married, the barracks that today's Soldiers have are in far better shape than mine were. Also, as the result of the Single Soldier Initiatives implemented in the early-mid '90s, you have a lot more freedom to make you barracks room a "home". You can have your own linens and bed coverings as opposed to the issued white sheets and wool Army blankets; you do not have to be subjected to daily room inspections; and you are not as much in danger of having to live pay check to pay check because you can not budget for the many bills you will have outside of the gates of the post. Now, it may seem less than ideal for an "older" enlisted Soldier, but take an honest look at a lot of your peers and you will know that some, if not most would not be able to "survive" out on the economy. Yes it is a pain in the ass, dealing with dining facilities that are less than stellar, or having to put up with sharing laundry facilities or dealing with a roommate as far as the controlling of the AC/Heater in your room. But guess what, you will still end up having to deal with most of those same roommate issues out on the economy because more than likely as a single Soldier/junior NCO your BAH rating will not allow for you to live by yourself. The cost of renting an apartment or house on the economy near an Army post is tied closely to the BAH rates for married Soldiers. You will be having to share an apartment/house with others just to make the rent, not including the utilities that you will have to pay for as well as the cost of having to maintain a vehicle and pay for gas to travel to and from. If there are issues with the barracks that are not being addressed when brought up to the unit/or barracks program managers, then exercise your right to carry these issues to the IG or Garrison Commanders Office and these issues will get fixed, without a doubt.

General rule: BAH is only authorized based on non-availability of government housing.

I never got BAH because I was married, I got it because there was insufficient family housing.

As a single soldier I got it because there was no government housing within commuting distance from my duty site.

As an exception, I once was authorized because I owned real estate in the local area.

Barracks are not a punishment. They are the default housing for soldiers. Age has never been and should not be an exception.